In a thrilling Ranji Trophy quarter-final at the MCA Cricket Ground, Karnataka pulled off a stunning victory over Mumbai, securing their spot in the semifinals. The match, which kept fans on the edge of their seats, was dominated by Karnataka’s batting prowess in the chase.
Karnataka were set a challenging target of 325 runs in the fourth innings. Opener KL Rahul set the tone with a masterful 130 off 182 balls, smashing 14 fours and a six. He departed at the fourth wicket when just 59 runs were needed, but by then, the result was almost sealed.
S. Ravichandran remained not out on 83 from 123 deliveries, while Vidyadhar Patil chipped in with an unbeaten 31 off 30 balls. Captain Devdutt Padikkal contributed a solid 39. Karnataka chased down the target for the loss of six wickets, clinching a four-wicket win.
Mumbai’s captain Shardul Thakur won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that backfired spectacularly. Except for Akhil Herwadkar’s gritty 60, the rest of the batting lineup collapsed, folding for a mere 120.
Karnataka’s bowlers shone brightly. Vidwath Kaverappa, Prasasidd Krishna, and Shreyas Gopal each claimed three wickets, with Vidyadhar Patil picking up one.
Karnataka’s first innings ended at 173 despite Mayank Agarwal’s 92, giving them a crucial 53-run lead. Mumbai’s Mohit Awasthi and Tushar Deshpande took four wickets apiece.
In their second innings, Mumbai posted 377, setting the 325-run adjusted target. But Karnataka’s batsmen rose to the occasion, ensuring a memorable triumph. KL Rahul was rightfully named Player of the Match for his heroic knock.